Nuneaton MP welcomes moves to save community pubs

[dutchman]

Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones has spoken out in a Parliament debate to support community pubs.



He said: “The pub industry has suffered greatly over the past decade and at one point during the last Government six pubs a day were closing.

“We are still seeing local pubs suffering and the Hayrick, near where I live in Nuneaton, closed again just after Christmas.”

The Tory member said that a number of voluntary measures now being taken up by the pub companies are significant, including a new industry framework code, will help the pub trade.

But he warned ministers that in addition to the relationship between the tenant and pub company, there were issues of wider significance affecting the community pub which also need to be addressed.

“Losing the local in many communities takes away a central hub and heart of that community.

“The pub industry has had to contend with the smoking ban, increased regulation on alcohol sales, beer duty rising by 35per cent over the last four years alone, not to mention, below-cost selling at supermarkets becoming more prevalent and, to top all that, we have suffered the deepest and longest recession since the 1930s.”

Mr Jones added: “I believe that voluntary measures to help relations between pub company and licensee are positive and I welcome them.

“That is why I fully support a review of these arrangements over direct, immediate regulation.”